Tuesday, October 05, 2004

Extraleague Update Machine: 10-05-04

Ok, so there is not a lot of incredible North American hockey news of note these days.

Still, I'd encourage you to check out TSN's proposal to end the lockout that would appease both sides. I'll have my own proposal in blog format sometime this week (I hope).

Now, onto today's news from the homeland

CZECHIA:

1. Milan Hejduk is heating up: He had 2 points today after getting his 1st point in the previous game. This time, Pardubice beat up on Trinec... and who hasn't? :(

2. Fighting is illegal in European hockey, but that didn't stop Jiri Slegr from dropping the mitts against Stanislav Prochazka. The goonish Slegr is now 2nd in the league with 39 penalty minutes.

3. One guy I neglected on my updates was Tomas Kloucek. Including today's game, Kloucek has 0 points and is -3 in 7 games. This guy just can't seem to stick in the NHL, and I wonder if he'll be a permanent fixture in Europe before long.

4. Martin Prusek has played so poorly this season that he's been replaced by garden-variety backup Marek Pinc. Pinc has played well the past 2 games, so don't expect Prusek to get much playing time in the near future. It hasn't been a great return to the Extraliga for the NHL goalies...

5. Jaromir Jagr is in a familiar place: on top! Jagr leads the Extraliga in scoring now with 13 points in just 7 games (the other dudes have 9).

Today's stats...

SLOVAKIA:

No games today from Slovakia, but some tidbits

1. Patrik Stefan, the wonderfully unproductive 1st overall pick of the Thrashees was talking to Slovan Bratislava about joining their team. Today's news report suggest that those talks are off and Stefan won't play in Slovakia any day soon.

2. Zigmund Pálffy has scheduled his 10-game 'personal loan' to Skalica to begin on October 17th (Round 13) when Skalica will travel to Poprad. Pálffy plans to stay with Skalica until November 7th. This isn't set in stone just yet.
I don't think Slavia will be shedding too many tears since Pálffy only has 4 points and a -4 rating in 8 games with Slavia to date.

3. Radovan Somík has been playing with 1st division Martin, to date. He's looking to join a Czech Extraliga club (perhaps his old haunt of Zlin) and is not too interested in the Slovak Extraliga.

I ve just returned from Vitkovice-Znojmo game (3-1). By my opinion, it was just an average game, but lot of loca fans was excited about the level. I am happy I avent seen previous Vitkovice games.

Pavel Kubina played great, best man of the match, even better than Marek Pinc. Havlat and Elias weer obviously three levels above the majority of the rest of the players, but it seemed to me, that they do not play on 100%, mainly their defence lacks intensity. I hope they will improve their commitment.

Vaclav Varada tried to hit some opponent every time on ice, but he only managed to smash himself, when Pucher readed his mind and stepped away at the boards.

Vokoun had some great saves, but allowed cheap goal on 3-1.

Znojmo has second worst defence so far, and only because Jihlava allowed 9 goals today.

4. Martin Prusek has played so poorly this season that he's been replaced by garden-variety backup Marek Pinc. Pinc has played well the past 2 games, so don't expect Prusek to get much playing time in the near future. It hasn't been a great return to the Extraliga for the NHL goalies...Oh no! If Hasek ends up in jail, whatever will we do?